FAQs

Question:

Why should I consider pre-planning for my funeral or cremation?

Answer:

Taking the time to plan for your final arrangements is one of the smartest moves you can make. It can be done around the same time that you decide to write out a will, plan for retirement, or make plans for your assets after your passing. Preplanning your arrangements in advance will be one of the last gifts you’ll ever give to your loved ones.

One of the biggest reasons people choose to preplan is so that they can be in control of their final arrangements. Most people have preferences about whether they want a traditional burial, or they want to be cremated, and how they want their celebration of life or not to have any services at all.

Question:

Will I need to pay this all-up front & what are my options?

Answer:

You can set up a payment plan that meets your needs and your budget or pay in full ahead of time. For one thing, this will allow you to lock in a price and avoid the rising costs of inflation. By locking in a price, you and your family will avoid having to pay more later at the time of your passing, as prices tend to rise over time. And your loved ones will have peace of mind knowing that you took care of this for them, so they won’t have to.

Question:

What are the steps needed to start preplanning?

Answer:

There are 4 simple basic steps to preplanning:

1. Think about what you would like to have done with your body (cremated or casketed burial) and where you would like to be placed or ashes scattered.
2. Need a Planning Guide to place all your important vital statistics needed for the funeral director to assist them in getting your death certificate. Along with a place to write down all your wants wishes and desires for your celebration of life. This guide will also be a place to record all your accounts for your loved ones to close out after your passing.
3. You’ll need to secure & fund your pre-arrangements whether on a payment plan or in full.
4. You’ll need to let your family or personal representative know what your wishes are, whom to call when the time comes and where you placed your Planning Guide. They’ll need your Planning Guide to take with them to the funeral home on the day of the arrangement conference.

Question:

Since I’m a Veteran; I thought the VA would take care of my funeral & burial, is this true?

Answer:

I want to first Thank You for Your Service! There are a lot of misunderstandings about what the VA will or won’t provide for our Vets. If you have an honorable discharge from the Armed Forces (DD214 form) The VA will provide you and your spouse with a grave space or a niche in the wall. They will also cover the grave liner, perpetual care of the cemetery, and the interment or inurnment (the opening & closing) along with a marker at a VA Cemetery. Should a Vet choose to be placed in a private cemetery, the VA will still provide a marker for the Vet. They will not cover the cost of a base should one be needed, or the installation fee of the marker. Your family will need to pay for these costs.

There may be other VA Burial Benefits that your family may be eligible to receive after your passing (the Vet not the spouse) should you choose to be buried at a private cemetery. These benefits would be a reimbursement.

Question:

Is Cremation cheaper than a traditional burial?

Answer:

In most cases being cremated and having a memorial service or a celebration of life ceremony is a lot less costly than having a traditional funeral & burial. It really will depend on what you would like to be done with your cremated remains (scattered or memorialized) will determine the total cost of your arrangements.